Leg rest



April 18, 1944. BOWMAN 2,346,722

I I LEG REST Filed Feb. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 18, 1944UNTED STATES ATENT OFFICE LEG REST Lura Ethel Bowman, Asheville, N. 0.

Application February 4, 1943, Serial No. 474,747

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in legrests for the occupants of beds, particularly those suffering withparalysis, and has for its primary object to provide a device of thischaracter which is adapted to support the legs in an upwardly inclinedposition in a manner to promote comfort.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a leg restof the aforementioned character which is adapted to be expeditiouslyadjusted to support the legs in dilferent positions.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a legrest of the character set forth which, when not in use, may beconveniently folded in a manner to occupy a minimum of space.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a leg rest of thecharacter described which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation, showing a leg rest constructed inaccordance with the present invention in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the leg rest, showing theinclined platform in its highest position.

Figure 4 is a rear elevatlonal view of the device.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation, showing the device folded.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises asubstantially fiat base of suitable material which is desigcross members3 and 4. Mounted transversely n the forward end portions of the sidebars 2 is a pair of cleats 5, the purpose of which will be presently setforth.

Mounted for swinging adjustment in a vertical plane on the base I is aplatform of suitable material which is designated generally by referencenumeral .6.

The platform 8 comprises a panel I having one end hingedly secured, asat 8, to the cleats 5.

Mounted transversely beneath the free end portion of the panel I is apair of spaced bars 9 5 and iii.

A pair of props ii are provided for supporting the platform 6 in raisedor operative position. The supporting props l I are hingedly secured, asat l2, on the end portions of the inner cross member 3 of the base I.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To support thelegs I3 of the patient in a straight, upwardly inclined position, theplatform 6 is swung upwardly on its hinges 8 and the props II areengaged beneath the panel 7 against either of the bars 9 or Ill,according to the elevation at which it is desired to support the legs.It will thus be seen that the bars 9 and ii! constitute positive stopsfor the supporting props II, in addition to strengthening or reinforcingthe panel I. When the device is not in use, the supporting props H areswung downwardiy on their hinges l2 and rest on the side bars 2 of thebase I and the platform 6 is swung downwardly on its hinges 8, saidplatform resting on said props.

It is believed that the many advantages of a leg rest constructed inaccordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

A leg rest comprising a base structure including a pair of spaced,parallel side bars and further including a pair of spaced, parallelcross members mounted on one end portion of said side bars, cleatsmounted transversely on the other end portions of the side bars, a legsupporting platform including a panel hingedly secured, at one end, onthe cleats, bars mounted transversely beneath the free end portions ofthe platform at longitudinally spaced points, and props hingedly mountedon the innermost of the cross members and engageable selectively withthe second-named bars beneath the panel for adjustably supporting theplatform in inclined positions on the base structure.

LURA ETHEL BOWMAN.

